A public row has erupted between at least two of the three parties that form the Forward Guyana Movement, with one of the partners, the Vigilant Political Action Committee, accusing Forward Guyana Leader, Amanza Walton- Desir, of breaking a pre-election accord of rotating a Parliamentary seat.

The Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) obtained just one seat at the just concluded General and Regional Elections. There are reports that Walton-Desir is expected to take up the seat for three years, while Nigel London of The People’s Movement is expected to take up the remaining two years, leaving V-PAC out of the rotation.

The internal issues of the partners of the Forward Guyana Movement exploded publicly on Wednesday when the Leader, Amanza Walton-Desir, accused a member of V-Pac of making threats against her and bullying her.

“As a woman in leadership, you do not call me or get into my inbox because you cannot get your way  and issue ultimatum that you will burn this bridge and I take it very personally because the symbol of forward Guyana is a bridge, so I want to be very clear, too many of our women are being lost to abuse and to bullying and to intimidation and you see me as a female leader and you believe that you could come  and you could threaten me, I do not take threats,”  Walton-Desir said in a live broadcast.

Walton-Desir made reference to the issue of the seat allocation and said a decision was already taken that the upcoming Parliament is one of the most critical in the country’s history and deserves serious, experienced representation. She said she will not be disrespected with threats and bullying statements.

“You will respect us, you will speak to us properly and you will understand that when as women leaders we make decisions, those decisions are made. This attitude that you can intimidate women and if you shout at women enough, they will shout at women enough they will sit and be quiet, it does not option here. The PPP can’t try it with me, the PNC could not try it with me and none of you will try it with me,” the Forward Guyana Leader said.

But in a statement today, V-PAC said it entered the coalition with Forward Guyana and The People’s Movement in good faith, knowing that no single party in the coalition could win on its own.

The party said it was agreed that the parliamentary seats secured would be rotated equally among the three partners.  But now that only one seat was secured, there appears to be no honouring of the deal.

“Walton-Desir tore up that pact the moment it suited her. Instead of honouring the deal, she anointed herself sole power-broker, keeping 60 percent of the seat for herself and handing 40 percent to Nigel London. VPAC, which fought alongside them and helped win that mandate, was cut out entirely. That is not leadership. That is theft,” VPAC said.

The party said it had fully back Walton- Desir, but accused her of bullying her coalition partners and sidelining her allies.

According to VPAC, the parliamentary seat belongs to the collective and it was won by three parties, not by Walton-Desir the individual.

VPAC said it intends to fight for its rightful share of representation, and will not apologise for demanding honesty, inclusivity, and real leadership.

Related posts:

Forward Guyana Movement launches Contract with the People Manifesto Forward Guyana Movement to launch “Contract with the People” Manifesto Forward Guyana Movement questions GECOM’s request for modification of party symbol Forward Guyana, the People’s Movement and V-PAC join forces in for upcoming elections